2024 Alzheimer's Association Research Grant to Promote Diversity (AARG-D)
Life course BP trajectories and time to dementia in Black aging persons
What is the association between lifetime blood pressure patterns and the development of dementia in older Black adults?
Sarah Forrester, Ph.D.
University of Massachusetts
Worcester, MA - United States
Background
According to the 2024 Alzheimer’s Association Facts and Figures report, older Black adults are about twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s and related dementias (ADRD) compared to older White Americans. Many researchers believe that there is not a single cause of ADRD, but rather the result of several factors that develop over time, including lifestyle, environment, and genetics.
Studies have shown that high blood pressure in middle age is linked to an increased risk of developing ADRD later in life. Blood pressure is influenced by stress, which tends to be higher for Black Americans.
Based on the increased incidence of high blood pressure and ADRD in Black Americans, understanding blood pressure changes throughout life in this population may lead to an understanding of their risk of developing ADRD.
Research Plan
Dr. Sarah Forrester and colleagues will examine the link between cardiovascular risk factors and risk of developing Alzheimer’s in a diverse cohort of older adults. The researchers will leverage clinical data from the Dementia Risk Prediction Pooling Project, a study that followed 199,218 middle-aged and older adults in the United States and Europe to learn more about dementia. This data includes comprehensive medical histories, cognitive assessments, cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, BMI, smoking status), and race/ethnicity. Using this data, the team will evaluate blood pressure changes as people get older and how high blood pressure at different ages impacts a person’s risk of dementia.
Impact
The results of this project may shed new light on our understanding of the mechanisms linking cardiovascular risk in early life with one’s lifetime risk of dementia. They may also lead to new treatments and prevention strategies for those at greatest risk of developing dementia.